# What the Parity for Online Student Veterans Act Does

This bill increases housing money for military veterans who are taking college classes entirely online. Right now, veterans using the Post-9/11 GI Bill get a monthly housing stipend (extra money to help pay rent or mortgage), but if they're studying only through distance learning, they receive just 50 percent of what veterans attending in-person classes get. This bill removes that 50 percent cap, so online students would get the full housing stipend amount instead.

The practical effect is straightforward: veterans pursuing online education would receive significantly more monthly financial support. For example, if an in-person student gets $1,000 a month for housing, an online student currently gets $500. Under this bill, that online student would also get the full $1,000. This matters because online students still have real housing costs—they need a place to live while they study, just like anyone else. The bill essentially says that how you take your classes shouldn't determine how much housing help you receive.

This change would apply to any classes starting on or after January 1, 2023. The bill recognizes that online education has become a legitimate and increasingly common way for veterans to earn their degrees, especially for those who may have work or family obligations that make attending campus classes difficult. By equalizing the housing stipend, the bill aims to make online education a more financially viable option for veterans using their education benefits.

Parity for Online Student Veterans Act

Bilirakis, Gus M.

Parity for Online Student Veterans Act This bill increases the monthly housing stipend available under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program for individuals who pursue programs of education solely through distance learning on more than a half-time basis.